JumpStart
Maryland Youth Ballet’s JumpStart Outreach Initiative, started in 2007, provides opportunities for access, participation, and mentorship in formal dance training to populations that have historically been underrepresented in classical ballet. JumpStart provides free afterschool ballet classes to children, grades 1-2, at 10 elementary schools in suburban MD within the Washington, DC metropolitan region. From about 200 after school students, 20-25 are selected to participate in a free, week-long, all-day intensive at MYB. From that group, children with the passion and potential are offered full-year training scholarships to MYB’s academy.
MYB works in partnership with Montgomery County’s Linkages to Learning program.
Maryland Youth Ballet’s JumpStart Outreach Initiative, started in 2007, provides opportunities for access, participation, and mentorship in formal dance training to populations that have historically been underrepresented in classical ballet. JumpStart provides free afterschool ballet classes to children, grades 1-2, at 10 elementary schools in suburban MD within the Washington, DC metropolitan region. From about 200 after school students, 20-25 are selected to participate in a free, week-long, all-day intensive at MYB. From that group, children with the passion and potential are offered full-year training scholarships to MYB’s academy.
MYB works in partnership with Montgomery County’s Linkages to Learning program.
“I am so grateful that Farah was a part of the JumpStart program. She still walks with her chin up…So many children need an outlet and ballet gives them a level of discipline that they never have had before. So proud of MYB.”
Angela (JumpStart Parent)
Learn More
Interested in offering JumpStart classes in your school? Email: info@marylandyouthballet.org
Press for JumpStart
JumpStart featured on CultureSpot MC – In Living Color by Peggy Vaughn.
Support
Please consider supporting MYB’s JumpStart Outreach Initiative with a donation.
JumpStart Leadership
Sarah Macdonald grew up in Portland, OR, where she trained at the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre. She continued her dance training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Ballet Austin and went on to dance professionally with Ballet Theatre of Maryland and Moveius Contemporary Ballet. Sarah has been teaching ballet since 2013, and joined the faculty at MYB in 2022. Sarah is now the JumpStart Initiative Coordinator.
“It’s such a pleasure to share my love for ballet with students who may not have had the chance to dance otherwise. MYB has built such an incredible program, and it is an honor to continue to bring this opportunity into the community.” -Sarah Macdonald
Harriet Moncure Fellows was a Senior Faculty Member at MYB for 42 years, retiring in July 2024. She founded the JumpStart Outreach Initiative at MYB. Receiving her early training at the Richmond Academy of Ballet and later with Eric Hampton in WDC, she was a leading dancer with Virginia Ballet Theatre and performed with Perlo/Bloom & Company. She taught at Randolph Macon College, George Washington University and George Mason University.
“I am so proud of this after school outreach endeavor which offers the classical ballet experience, free of charge, to children in our community. Our JumpStart students have not only thrived as young artists but also developed valuable life skills from their experiences at MYB. I look forward to seeing the new leadership bring continued success to the JumpStart program.” -Harriet Moncure Fellows
